Two pivotal conflicts, the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the more recent Gaza conflict, separated by fifty years, have significantly molded the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The aftermath of Israel’s challenges during the Yom Kippur War notably shifted global and regional dynamics in South Asia, compelling Pakistan to seek closer ties with Saudi Arabia.
Likewise, the evolving situation in the Gulf region following the October 7, 2023 Gaza conflict has rekindled and strengthened this partnership. It is understood that recent escalations, such as reported strikes in Qatar, may have further encouraged Saudi Arabia to deepen its engagement with Pakistan. This collaboration is built upon a foundation of over fifty years of shared history and strategic interests.
The alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has often been subject to intense scrutiny and debate, with some analysts describing the Saudi-Pakistan pact as a “dodgy insurance policy” in geopolitical terms.
In 1973, the oil embargo initiated by Arab nations, largely spearheaded by King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, sent shockwaves across Western economies. Pakistan, an erstwhile staunch ally of the United States and a key intermediary in its historic engagement with China in 1971, notably aligned itself with the Arab bloc during this critical period.
According to Shahid M. Amin, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, in his 2009 autobiography “Reminiscences of a Pakistani Diplomat,” the initial signs of a potential military alliance among Arab nations emerged when Syria recruited Pakistani air force pilots to assist in its 1973 conflict against Israel.
Prior to this, Zia-ul-Haq, who would later become Pakistan’s military ruler, acted as a military advisor to King Hussein of Jordan in 1970, assisting the Jordanian government in suppressing the Black September rebellion by Palestinian militants. Amin further noted that the Pakistani pilots serving with the Syrian Air Force in 1973 reportedly downed several Israeli jets during aerial combat. This achievement left a strong impression on Arab nations, contributing to an increased presence of Pakistani military personnel serving in various Arab capitals.
Following the 1973 war with Israel, a powerful sense of unity swept across Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Recognizing this, Tengku Abdul Rahman of Malaysia, then Secretary General of the OIC, proposed an emergency summit to evaluate the unfolding situation in West Asia.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, promptly capitalized on this opportunity, extending an offer to host the summit in Lahore. This significant Islamic Summit drew prominent leaders from across Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat, Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal, Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and notably, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the newly independent Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), who journeyed to Lahore to participate.
A poignant moment of reconciliation occurred when Mujib and Bhutto publicly embraced, signaling the end of the acrimonious 1971 period. Meanwhile, the pro-U.S. Shah of Iran chose to absent himself, embroiled in a verbal dispute with Gaddafi.
Discussions regarding Saudi Arabia’s defense agreement with Pakistan have often led to broader analyses, encapsulated by editorial opinions on “shifting sands” in regional defense strategies.
The resounding success of the Lahore Islamic Summit in 1974 sparked a new understanding within Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Arab Desk, then managed by Amin. While Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had maintained friendly relations since Pakistan’s independence in 1947, solidifying with a 1967 defense agreement, the recent influx of petrodollars into Gulf nations prompted Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to conceptualize a diplomatic mission, led by Foreign Minister Aziz Ahmed.
The objective was to secure financial assistance from the oil-rich United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Pakistani delegation first arrived in the UAE, tasked with impressing President Sheikh Zayed, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and a key oil producer among the seven Emirates. Amin recounted that Sheikh Zayed expressed his affection for Pakistan, listened respectfully to Ahmed’s plea for aid, and offered a substantial $100 million.
Continuing Bhutto’s “petrodollar diplomacy,” the team then proceeded to Saudi Arabia, where they were welcomed by King Faisal. The Saudi government, with careful discretion, inquired about the sum offered by Abu Dhabi. Upon learning the amount, the Saudis generously provided $300 million in aid and facilitated the Pakistani delegation’s return home aboard a Lockheed Jetstar aircraft.
Tragically, King Faisal was assassinated under mysterious circumstances by one of his nephews in 1975, and he was succeeded by King Khaled. Later that year, in September 1975, Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made another visit to Saudi Arabia, specifically to Taif, its mountainous summer capital near Mecca.
The Pakistani delegation on this trip included, besides Bhutto, Aziz Ahmed, Shahid M. Amin (head of the Arab Desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi. During a recess in the discussions, where Bhutto was seeking Saudi aid for acquiring fighter jets to balance India’s regional power, Saudi Ambassador Riad al-Khateeb approached Amin, subtly probing the extent of assistance Pakistan anticipated from the Saudi government.
Amin strategically refrained from providing a specific figure, instead turning the question back to al-Khateeb for his assessment of a reasonable amount. Al-Khateeb then revealed that King Khaled and Crown Prince Fahad were considering a grant of an astonishing $1-2 billion. Amin reflected, “The figure mentioned by Riad al-Khateeb was much more than what we had in mind and encouraged Pakistan to widen its expectations.” This substantial aid, he noted, was crucial for Pakistan’s recovery after the 1971 conflict and played a role in its eventual emergence as a nuclear power.